Presidency dismisses viral FEC anthem video as old, faults misinformation

By James Ike

The Presidency has dismissed as misleading a viral video showing President Bola Tinubu, ministers and other officials reciting the old national anthem during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, insisting the footage predates the adoption of the current national anthem.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, purportedly showed proceedings at a recent FEC meeting, with attendees singing the old anthem, "Arise O Compatriots," after President Tinubu entered the meeting venue and greeted participants.

However, the Presidency said the footage was recorded before Nigeria reverted to the old national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee," which officially became the country's national anthem on May 29, 2024.

Reacting via his verified X handle, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Segun Dada, said the video was from a 2023/2024 FEC meeting and not a recent event.

According to Dada, the identities of some officials seen in the footage clearly indicate that it predates the anthem change.

He noted that the video featured the former Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, who resigned in October 2024 due to health reasons.

He also pointed out that the footage listed the Ministry of Niger Delta, a ministry that was dissolved in October 2024, as further evidence that the video was not recent.

"This video has the former Hon. Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako at the 0:22-minute mark. He resigned due to health reasons in October 2024. It also listed the Ministry of Niger Delta, a ministry that was dissolved in October 2024. The new national anthem became official on May 29, 2024," Dada stated.

He concluded that the footage originated from a 2023/2024 FEC meeting and criticized those circulating it as recent, saying the spread of such content undermines responsible journalism.